SV2G Awarded Heritage Lottery Fund

Steelpan Town Project wins Heritage Lottery Fund support

SV2G has received £48,000.00 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, ‘A Steelpan Town’. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project focuses on the rich history of Steelpans in High Wycombe. From “ The New Sound Crusaders Steel Band” that was the first Steel Band to win the 1970’s TV show “Opportunity Knocks” presented by Hughie Green, through to today’s generation “Wycombe Steel Orchestra, the opportunity to capture their stories and pass on their skills to the young people will be captured.

A Steelpan Town project will enable young people to explore how Steelpan musicians have influenced musical trends in the town. This is of importance to young people that currently play the steelpan, as it enables them to understand its cultural significance and able to pass on to others.

This project will bring part of our local history to life with music whilst our young people will be able to share skills and resources with other members in the community gaining a memorable learning experience. Commenting on the news Steve Baker MP said, “I am delighted this important heritage work will be able to go ahead on a firm foundation”. SV2G’s heritage partner, Wycombe Museum also views this project as vital to document the areas rich and diverse history that will be shared with other residents in the community of different backgrounds in years to come. The findings and collections will be archived as part of the museum’s collections.

About SV2G:
Established in 2003, SV2G is an Arts & Heritage organisation that manages the School of Steelpan, the Steelpan Educators & Tutors Association, Wycombe Steel Orchestra, and produces the Wycombe Community Festival and Carnival.
Based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, SV2G delivers dynamic projects with schools, youth groups, community organisations.

SV2G is one of a hundred and seventeen Cultural Olympiad projects in the South East of England to have been awarded the coveted London 2012 Olympic Inspire Mark. The organisation currently delivers a Cultural Legacy in Bucks, with the School of Steelpan at the forefront in offering formal accreditation on the steelpan instrument that includes the University of West Indies graded examinations.